Domestic appliance



ocpzo, 1942. D. K. #ERRIS' 2,299,688

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed June 29, 1939 1 BY 2 Z I 1N VENTOlR.

Patented Oct. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Donald K. Ferris, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application June 29, 1939, Serial No. 281,913

. 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a domestic appliance and more particularly to ironing machines.

from one place to another, together with a stop means which will prevent the ironing machine from being moved whenever desired.

It is another object to provide an ironing machine with a supporting means upon which it can be moved from one place to another, together with a stop means which is rendered effective by the movement of some part incidental to the use of the ironing machine.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a simple inexpensive and attractive supporting means for an ironing machine which will readily harmonize in appearance with other parts of the machine.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an end view of one form of ironing machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the ironing machine with the covering in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through one of the stop means of the ironing machine; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the engagement of the lower end of the brace rod with the stop means.

Briefly, I have shown an ironing machine generally conventional which is provided with an improved form of cover controlled stop means. The end supports for the machine are of sheet metal with curled flanges which are reinforced by channel members so that a flat smooth surface is provided at each end of the ironing machine which harmonizes with the cover and the work table surface of the machine. The cover is generally rectangular in shape and, when opened, the rear face of the cover aligns itself with the work table surface while the front face provides a second horizontal deck thereby providing additional surfaces which may be used to hold articles which have been ironed. The sheet metal supports are provided with swivel casters so that the ironing machine may be readily moved about on the floor. The ironing machine 4 metal.

' the angle bracket 44.

is also provided with a stop means which is effective when the cover is opened so as to prevent the movement of the ironing machine when it is being used.

Referring now to the drawing there is shown an ironing machine including a roll 28, a shoe 22 which cooperates withthe roll, a bracket 24 and a lever 26 for releasing the shoe 22 from the roll 20. These active members of the ironing ma- .chine are supported by a supporting head 28 which extends upwardly from the work table surface 30 of the ironing machine. The work table surface 30 is formed of sheet metal which is bent downwardly on all edges. On the front and rear edges this downwardly eXtending.portion is in the form of a flange 32. Upcn the ends, however, the downwardly extendingportions 34 and 36 extend substantially to the floor. Thus the work table surface 3t and the end portions 34 and 36 are made from one sheet of At the bottom of each of these. downwardly extending portions 34 and 36 there is provided a channel member 33 which reinforces this bottom portion and also serves as a support for the swivel casters 40 which are fastened beneath the horizontal portion of the channel members 33. Four of these swivel casters are provided. I

At the side of each of therear casters an adjustable stop means is provided. Each of these stop means includes a, rod 42 threaded at each end and guided vertically by an aperture in the channel iron member 38 and by an aperture in the angle bracket 44. The rod 42 is normally held upwardly in ineffective position by a compression type coil spring 46 which surrounds the rod 42 between the channel iron member 38 and the bracket 44. The lower end of this spring46 rests upon the upper surface of the channel iron member 38 while the upper end rests against a collar 48 which is fixed to the rod 42 or it may be held in place by a cotter-pin passing through the rod. The pressure of the spring normally holds the collar 43 against the bottom of The lower end of the rod 42 has a soft rubber cap member 59 either threaded or molded to it. When the rod 42 is pushed downwardly this cap member 50 rests upon the floor and prevents the movement of the ironing machine, otherwise it is held off the floor by the spring 45. The upper end of the rod 42 is provided with a lock nut 52 which looks a rubber or metal cap member 54 upon the upper end of the rod. This rubber or metal cap member 54 is also threaded on the rod and by loosening the lock nut 52, it may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly.

This stop means is controlled by a brace rod 58 which has its lower end 66 bent horizontally and reduced in diameter as shown in Fig. 4, so that it enters the slot '62 which is provided in the flanges of the downwardly extending end portions 34 and 36. Washers I59 are provided on opposite sides of the flanges and are held between the shoulder provided by the reduced portion and the cotter-pin E I. This horizontal lower end portion 60 of the brace rod 58 overlies the upper cap '54 on the rod 42. When the cover 64 is opened, as shown in Fig. 1, by tilting it rearwardly, the lower end portion 63 of the brace rod 58 will engage the upper cap member 54 and move the rod downwardly so that the cap 5!] rests upon the floor, as shown in Fig. 1. In this position the entire weight of the cover overcomes the tension of the coil spring 46 and applies sufli cient force to the upper end of the rod 2 2 to hold the lower cap member 59 firmly upon the floor so as toprevent movement of the ironing machine. The point of connection 59 may be moved closer to the hinges 66 to apply more force to the stop means when necessary. The brace rod 58 not only serves to operate the stop means but also supports the cover in open position.

The cover 64 is hinged at three points on its lower rear edge to the rear edge of the work table surface 30. Hinges 66 are provided at each of these three points and provide a pivotal aXis for the cover 64 which is in substantial alignment with the work table surface 30. The upper cap member is so adjusted that when the cover is pivoted backward to open the ironing machine,-

it will be stopped by the engagement of the lower end 60 of the brace rod 58 with the upper cap member 54 and the engagement of the lower cap member 50 with the floor at the time when the rear face 65 of the cover 64 is substantially in alignment with the work table surface 30 and the front face 63 of the cover is horizontal, as is shown in Fig. 1. This makes it possible to use the front face 63 as Well as the interior of so as to harmonize and conform to the same general design. In this way I have provided a very attractive ironing machine which has maximum utility.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An ironing machine comprising a working table having a substantially flat top, end supports for said top having integral flanges lengthwise of the top substantially aligned with the longitudinal edges of said top and also inwardly directed flanges underneath said top to form concealed stop rod supports and guides, casters on said end supports, upright stop rods slidably enclosed within said stop rod supports and guides, a cover for said flat top hinged at the rear thereof, and actuating connections between said cover and said upright stop rods.

2. An ironing machine comprising a working table having a substantially flat top, end supports for said top having integral flanges lengthwise of the top substantially aligned with the longitudinal edges of said top and also inwardly directed flanges underneath said top to form concealed stop rod supports and guides, casters on said end supports, upright stop rods slidably enclosed within said stop rod supports and guides, a cover for said flat top hinged at the rear thereof, and actuating connections between said cover and said upright stop rods, the actuating connections being lost motion connections.

3. An ironing machine comprising a working table having a substantially flat top, end supports for said top having integral flanges lengtha wise of the top substantially from said top to the floor and also inwardly directed flanges extending under said top to form substantially continuous concealed stop rod supports and guides, casters on said end supports, upright stop rods slidably supported within said stop rod supports and guides, a cover for said flat top hinged at the rear thereof, and actuating means connected to said cover and said upright stop rods to lower said stop rods when said cover swings rearwardly. 4. An ironing machine comprising a working table having a substantially rectangular fiat top, end supports for said flat top having flanges directed lengthwise of said flat top and then inwardly, a substantially horizontal transverse member at the bottom of each of said end supports held within said flanges, casters on said transverse member, stop means within said end flanges, a cover for said flat top and connections between said cover and stop means to engage the floor when said cover is in open position.'

DONALD K. FERRIS. 

